High Nitrate Levels

[markbeth]

I checked my water last night and was amazed at the level. My nitrate level was 160. The ammonia and nitrites were fine. My ph is always low and was at 6. I have tried tp bring it up, but it never lasts.

I had prime in the house and followed the direction for detox. I used 5 times the normal dosage. I just checked the level again and it doesn't look as if it has come down at all.

Overall the fish look okay. I have a white tetra whose tail isn't looking great, but that has been a chronic problem. I noticed one of the bleeding hearts looked kinda pale, but otherwise the fish appear to be doing okay.

The high level worries me. My temp is about 86 degrees and I do water a 25% water change monthly. I try to remember to clean the filter every 2 weeks and replace it monthly.

I know it is real bad for the fish. What do I do to get the level down?

Beth

 

[WILDER]

Need to no stock of your tank, how many fish and which type, how often do you maintain the tank, when did you last maintain the filter, and what is your tap reading in nitrate, also like to see other test results in ammonia,and nitrite, how big is the tank.

 

[WILDER]

You are not changing the sponges all the time are you, that are in your filter.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi markbeth

Your beneficial bacteria consume the ammonia produced by your fish in their waste products and turn it into nitrite; then other beneficial bacteria convert that into nitrates. If kept at a level of 40 ppm or so, the nitrates are not harmful to fish, but at the level that is in your water, they could be.

The best way to reduce it is to do water changes every day until it comes down. I would do about 25% each day. Unless you are very overstocked, the reason they got so high is because you are not cleaning your tank and doing water changes often enough to remove them adequately.

Once you get them down, I would suggest you do at least a 25% water change every week to keep them down. I would also recommend that you test your water as it comes out of the tap to see if it is naturally high in nitrates. If so, you will have to increase the amount and/or the frequency of the water changes to allow for this.

What kind of filter do you use? In most cases, it's best not to clean it until it begins to slow down the water flowing through it. If you do this in the water you remove during water changes, the beneficial bacteria will not be harmed. Despite what your lfs might tell you, it's seldom necessary to replace the filter media itself until it actually wears out.

Is there a particular reason why you keep your tank temperature so high?